George w



(No odel.)

DIOKEY R COUPLING,

Patented Feb. 9, 1892.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEI GEORGE WV. DICKEY, OF DES MOINES, IOlVA, ASSIGNOR TO THE DICKEY AUTOMATIC CAR COUPLER COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 468,598, dated February 9, 1892. Application filed August 31, 1891. Serial No. 404,371. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. DICKEY, a

' citizen of the United States, residing at Des Moines, in the county of Folk and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Car-Couplings, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of devices commonly known as link-and-pin car-couplings, and has for its object the construction of a car-coupling in which the pin is caused to drop within the coupling-link by the forcible removal of the sustaining devices by the impact of the link against said sustaining; devices.

A further object of my invention is to be found in the provision of means for sustaining said pin in an elevated position until the link contacts with the sustaining devices.

A further object of my invention is to be found in the provision of means for restricting the longitudinal movement of the coupled cars relative to each other.

Afurther object of my invention is to be found in the provision of means whereby the coupling-pin may be elevated, and means for retaining said pin in an elevated position until the coupled cars are separated.

My invention consists in the combination, with a draw-bar of the link-and-pin type, of a gravity-trigger pivotally mounted within the draw head, which trigger serves as a support for the pin until such time as the approachin g coupling-link impacts against said trigger and moves the same rcarwardly a sufficient distance to permit the descent of the pin into engagement with the link.

My invention consists, further, in the combination, with a draw-bar, of a buffer-head pivotally secured to the draw-head and extending to a point in advance of the face of said draw-head, whereby the longitudinal movement of the coupled cars relative to each other is limited.

My invention consists, further, in the details of construction and combin ation of parts hereinafter set forth, pointed out in the claims, and illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective View showing my complete device attached to a car. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view showing the relative position of the parts when a coupling is about to be effected. Fig. 3 is alongitudinal vertical sectional view showing the relative position of the parts, a coupling having been effected. Fig. 4. is a longitudinal sectional viewshowing the relative position of the parts when unlocked, preparatory to separating the cars. Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view, the detachable portions being removed. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the rear side of the gravity-trigger. Fig. 7 is a bottom view of the buffer-head, shown detached.

In the construction of the device, as shown, the numeral 10 designates a draw-head having a flange 11 projecting from thelower side of the face thereof. This draw-head has an interior cavity 12, from which latter coinciding slots 13 and 14 extend, respectively, through the top and bottom of the draw-head to the exterior thereof, said slots serving to admit the coupling-pin 15. Studs 1b project in opposite directions from the upper portion of the pin 15, and raccways 17 are formed on the interior of the draw-head, opening into the cavity 12 and the slot 13, in which raceways the studs 16 travel. The cavity 12 also extends upward and forward to a point in advance of the coupling-pin 15, forminga lip 18 directly above the mouth of the draw-head. A gravity-trigger 19, Fig. 6, having trunnions 20 formed integrally with and projecting from opposite sides of its upper end, is pivotally mounted and travels within the raceways 21. These raoeways 21 are formed on the interior of the draw-head and, extending upwardly on either side of the slot 14 and the cavity 12, and also forwardly on either side of and above the lip 18, assume the form of an inverted J. A buffer-head 22 is hinged to a shoulder 23 on the top of the draw-head and extending forward from the point of hinging overlaps and projects downward past the end of said draw-head. A slot 24 is formed in the central portion of the buffer-head 22, through which slot the upper end portion of the coupling-pin 15 is passed to its point of attachment with the actuating devices. A slot 25 is formed in the gravity-trigger 19, through which slot the pin 15 passes when in engagement with the link. The lower end of the pin rests upon the gravity-trigger 19 within the slot when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 2. An actuating-rod 26 is rotatably mounted in bearings 27, fixed to the lower portion of the end of the car 28, as shown in Fig. 1. The ends of the actuating-rod 26 are bent to form winches 29 at each side ofthe car 28, and an arm 30 is formed integral with and projects forward from the central portion of said rod. An eye 31 is formed in the outer end of the arm 30, which arm is connected to the coupling-pin 15 by means of a clevis 32, which latter is passed through the eye 31 and an eye 33 in the coupling-pin 15.

A recess 34 is formed in the lower side of the buffer-head 22, surrounding the slot 24 therein, in which recess the studs 16 rest when the cars are coupled.

In the operation of my device, when it is desired to eifect'a coupling the-train or yard man actuate's one of the winches 29, thus lifting the pin 15. The studs 16, engaging the buffer-head 22, lift the latter, and at the same time the gravity-trigger 19 falls beneath the pin 15 and supports the latter. The parts having now been caused to assume a position to effect a coupling automatically, the impact of the approaching link on the gravity-trigger 19 moves the said trigger from beneath the coupling-pin 15 and permits the descent of the said pin through the slot 25 in to engagement with the link. In order to effect an uncoupling, the parts are caused to assume the position shown in Fig. 4, the pin 15 resting upon the lip 18, the gravitytrigger 19 being withheld by the link, and upon the separation of the cars and the withdrawal of thelink the gravity-trigger acts as a lever, the lip 18 being the fulcrum to dislodge the pin 15 from the lip 18, thereby causing the parts to again assume the position as shown in Fig. 2.

When it is desired to kick a car, the parts are caused to assume the position shown in Fig. '4, the coupling-link withholding the gravity-trigger 19. It is obvious that the link may be withdrawn. without the engagement of the pin 15.

The buffer-head 22, overlapping and projecting downwardover the upper face of the draw head, prevents any possible injury to the hand of the operator if for any reason it becomes necessary to manipulate the approa'ching link. The buffer-head also receives the impact of the approaching drawhead, and being preferably made of steel protects the faces of the cast-iron draw-heads from injury. The downwardly extending portion of the buffer-head being interposed between the approximating draw-heads serves to take up the slack between the cars and permit the use of links of varying length.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States therefor, is

-1. In a car-coupling, the combination, with a draw-head, of a gravity-trigger pivoted at its upper end within the interior of the drawhead, which pivot is adapted to change or vary its relative position within the said draw-head in the operation of the coupler, a'

coupling-pin vertically mounted on said gravity-trigger, and a coupling-link adapted to impact against the gravity-trigger and cause a dislodgment of the coupling-pin to effect a a coupling, together with means for raising the pin.

2. In a car-coupling, the combination, with a draw-head having an interior cavity therein and raceways opening into said interior cavity, of a gravity-trigger having trunnions pivoted and traveling within said raceways, a coupling-pin adapted to be supported on said gravity-trigger, and a coupling-link adapted to impact against the gravity-trigger and cause a dislodgment of the coupling-pin to effect a coupling, together with means for raising the pin.

3. In a car-coupling, the combination, with a draw-head having an interior cavity therein and raceways opening into the said interior cavity, of a gravity-trigger having trunnions on its upper end pivoted and traveling within said raceways, a coupling-pin adapted to be supported on said gravity-trigger, and a coupling-link adapted to impact against the gravity-trigger and cause a dislodgment of the coupling-pin to effect a coupling.

4. The combination, in a car-coupling, of a draw-head having an interior cavity therein, which interior cavity extends upward and forward to form a lip within the draw-head, raceways opening into said interior cavity, a gravity-trigger having trunnions on its upper end, which trunnions are pivoted and travel within said raceways, a coupling-pin adapted to be supported on said lip, and means foreleva'ting said coupling-pin.

5. In a car-coupling, the combination, with a draw-head, of a gravity-trigger pivotally mounted within the draw-head, said pivot being adapted to change its relative position within said draw-head in the operation of coupling, a slot in said gravity-trigger adapted to admit the coupling-pin, a coupling pin adapted to be supported within said slot in the gravity-trigger, and a coupling-link adapted to impact against said gravity-trigger and cause a dislodgment of the couplingpin to eifect a coupling, together with means for raising the pin.

6. In a car-coupling, the combination, with a draw-head, of a buffer-head hinged to said draw-head and extending forward and down-- ward in advance of the face of said drawhead, which buffer-head is adapted to take up the slack between the coupled cars, together with a link and pin mounted within the draw-head.

7. In a car-coupling, the combination of a coupling-pin adapted to be raised vertically by manually-actuated devices, a gravity-trigger tending normally to assume a vertical position, said gravity-trigger being pivoted at its upper end within the draw-head, and a lip or recess formed in the forward portion of the draw-head adapted to engage and support the lower end of the pin.

8. In a car-coupling, the combination, with a draw-head and locking devices mounted therein, of a buffer-head hinged to the drawhead and extending to a point in advance of the face of said draw-head.

9. In a car-coupling, the combination, with the draw-head, of a bnffer-head hinged to said draw-head and extending forward and downward in advance of the face of said drawhead, said buifer-head having a slot through which the pin of the coupling is adapted to pass.

10. In a car-coupling, the combination, with a draw-head, ofa buffer-head hinged to said draw-head and extending forward and downward in advance of the face of said drawhead, which buffer-head has a slot through which the coupling-pin is adapted to pass, together with a recess in which studs on the coupling-pin rest when a couplingis effected. 11. In a car-coupling, the combination, with a draw-head, of a buffer-head hinged thereto, which latter extends forward to a point in advance of the draw-head, togetherwith aflange on the lower forward portion of the drawhead, forming a cavity for the hand in the meeting of the approximating draw-heads.

12. In a car-coupling, the combination of a buffer-head hinged to a draw-head and eX- tending forward to a point in advance of the face of said draw-head, a draw-head having a flat face in the rear of a downwardly-projecting portion of said buffer-head, and a flange or lip formed integral with and projecting forward from the lower portion of the face of said draw-head.

GEORGE W. DIGKEY. In presence ofi C. C. BULKLEY, F. O. TATE. 

